Spathiphyllum Plant Named ‘Sweet Catalina’

ABSTRACT

‘Sweet Catalina’ is a new and distinctive variety of  Spathiphyllum  plant which is characterized by broad, dark green foliage, strong and rigid petioles, the lack of pollen production, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2019/1332, filed Jul. 5, 2019, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Spathiphyllum sp. Schott.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Spathiphyllum disclosed herein has been giventhe variety denomination ‘Sweet Catalina’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The new cultivar is a seedling selection which resulted fromthe controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Spathiphyllumsp. ‘09061-44’ (not patented), and the proprietary pollen parent,Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09076-4’ (not patented). Both parents are developedand owned by the inventor and were never commercially released. Saidcross was performed by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse inHonselersdijk, The Netherlands during the early autumn of 2014. Afterapproximately one and a half years of evaluating the seedlings thatresulted from said cross, the new cultivar was selected in the summer of2016 due to its broad, dark green foliage and lack of pollen production.The new cultivar was given the breeder denomination ‘Sweet Catalina’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Sweet Catalina’, by wayof meristematic tissue culture, was first performed in 2017 at acommercial laboratory in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Four successivegenerations so produced have shown that the unique features of theinstant cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length,and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. Thefollowing characteristics have been repeatedly observed and representthe distinguishing characteristics of the new Spathiphyllum cultivar‘Sweet Catalina’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘SweetCatalina’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits broad, dark green        foliage; and    -   2. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits strong, rigid        petioles; and    -   3. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits a lack of pollen        production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage and growthcharacteristics of the new cultivar, ‘Sweet Catalina’. The plant shownis approximately 12 months old from a rooted cutting, potted into an 15cm nursery pot, grown in a climate-controlled greenhouse inRoelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of theplant in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color illustrations of this type, the typical flower of theplant in FIG. 1.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2020describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old‘Sweet Catalina’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands. Plants were producedusing conventional greenhouse production protocols for Spathiphyllumwhich consisted of 5,000 to 8,000 lux of light, regular overheadirrigation, fertilizer applications at an Electrical Conductivity levelof 2.3. No chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SweetCatalina’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristicsare given, it is to be understood that such measurements areapproximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. Thephenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forthherein with variations in environmental, climactic and culturalconditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Sixth Edition.

A botanical description of ‘Sweet Catalina’ and comparisons with theparents and the most similar variety of common knowledge are providedbelow.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Clump forming; broad spreading to upright with            foliage arising directly from the base of each clump.        -   Plant profile.—Broad obovate with inflorescences carried            within the foliage.        -   Height.—69.8 cm in height, to the highest leaf; 68.4 cm to            top of highest spathe.        -   Width.—Average 82.8 cm in width.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Method — Meristematic tissue culture. Time to            initiate roots — Approximately 28 days to initiate roots at            approximately 21 degrees Centigrade. Crop time —            Approximately 30 weeks to produce a well-rooted 13 cm            container from a rooted cutting.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Moderately high tolerance to rain            and wind; tolerant of temperatures ranging from 5 to 40            degrees Celsius. Cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 10.        -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been            observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to            pathogens and pests common to Spathiphyllum.-   Root system: Moderately fibrous, not fleshy; moderately dense.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching characteristics.—Clumping plant with leaves            emerging directly from the base of the plant; no lateral            branching.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; equitant.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity of leaves per shoot.—Average of 6.        -   Quantity of shoots per plant.—Average of 7.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 42.        -   Lamina.—Shape — Broad ovate to broad elliptic. Apex —            Apiculate to aristate. Base — Attenuate. Aspect — Slightly            carinate, slightly reflexed with leaf tip curled downward at            an average angle of approximately 60 degrees to the balance            of the laminar surface. Attitude — Upright and slightly            outward. Dimensions — 31.4 cm long and 15.3 cm wide. Margin            — Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, adaxial            surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture and luster,            abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and moderately glossy.            Juvenile color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to in            between RHS 137A and 143A. Juvenile color, abaxial surface —            Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Mature color, adaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green and greyed-green, RHS            NN137A and N189A. Mature color, abaxial surface — Green,            nearest to RHS NN137C. Venation — Vein pattern — Pinnate.            Vein color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A.            Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            145A.        -   Petiole, excluding geniculum.—Length — Approximately            36.5 cm. Width — Approximately 0.55 cm at the geniculum and            1.1 cm at the base. Color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest            to RHS 137B. Color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS            137C. Texture and luster — Smooth, glabrous, and very            slightly glossy. Strength — Strong. Geniculum — Length —            Approximately 5.1 cm. Width — Approximately 0.7 cm. Texture            and Luster — Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color —            Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and 145A.            Petiole wings — Length — Approximately 31.0 cm. Width —            Approximately 1.1 cm. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 148D. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 144A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type—Spathe.        -   Arrangement.—Peduncles arise directly from the base of the            plant with spathes carried at or below the foliar plane.        -   Attitude.—Near vertical.        -   Dimensions.—11.7 cm long, excluding the peduncle, and 6.0 cm            wide; spathe is 4.4 cm deep.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—On average 6 fully open            spathes, in good condition.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn into spring in the            Netherlands, with occasional flowering in summer.        -   Time to flowering.—24 weeks from planting.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately strong, sweet and pleasant (typical            Spathiphyllum scent).        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers stay in good condition            approximately 3 weeks on the plant.        -   Peduncle.—Attitude — Near vertical. Length — 60.3 cm.            Diameter — 0.6 cm. Strength — Strong. Texture and luster —            Smooth, glabrous and very slightly glossy. Color —            Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.-   Spathe:    -   -   Attitude—Near vertical.        -   Aspect—Moderately to strongly concave.        -   Length—Approximately 11.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Depth.—4.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire; very slightly undulate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Texture, inner and outer surfaces.—Glabrous, slightly            coriaceous.        -   Luster, inner and outer surfaces.—Inner surface is slightly            glossy; outer surface is very slightly glossy.        -   Color.—Inner surface, when opening — White, nearest to RHS            155C, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B. Outer surface,            when opening — White, nearest to RHS NN155A, and tipped            green, nearest to RHS 143B; main vein is also green, RHS            143B. Inner surface, at maturity — White, nearest to RHS            NN155B, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B; main vein is            green, RHS 138B. Outer surface, at maturity — White, nearest            to RHS NN155B, and tipped green, nearest to RHS 143B; main            vein is also green, RHS 143B. Fading to — Not fading.-   Spadix:    -   -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 20 degrees to the peduncle.        -   Shape.—Oblong, columnar.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 5.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—When opening — Nearest to in between yellow and            greyed-yellow, RHS 10D and 160D. Mature — Greyed-yellow,            nearest to RHS 160D.        -   Flowers.—General — Flowers are greatly diminished, to the            point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.            Quantity of flowers per spadix — Approximately 150.            Arrangement — Spirally placed on spadix. Shape — Rounded.            Diameter — Approximately 0.35 cm. Height — Approximately            0.25 cm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   General.—Reproductive organs are greatly diminished, to the            point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.        -   Anthers.—Color — Yellow-white, nearest to RHS 158B.        -   Pollen, amount.—No pollen detected.        -   Stigma.—Quantity — 1. Shape — Conical. Dimensions — 0.3 cm            tall and 0.2 cm in diameter. Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest            to RHS 160D.        -   Ovary color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D.-   Seed and fruit: Seed production has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished fromthe seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09061-44’ (not patented), by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas the seed        parent does produce pollen.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished fromthe pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09076-4’ (not patented), by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas the pollen        parent does produce pollen.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Catalina’ may be distinguished fromthe commercial variety Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Lauretta’ (U.S. Pat. No.14,004) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Catalina’ does not produce pollen, whereas ‘Sweet        Lauretta’ does produce pollen.    -   2. ‘Sweet Catalina’ exhibits a foliage color that is darker        green when compared to the foliage color of ‘Sweet Lauretta’.    -   3. The foliage of ‘Sweet Catalina’ is more rigid and stronger        when compared to the foliage of ‘Sweet Lauretta’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllumplant named ‘Sweet Catalina’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.